Verbena plant named &#39;Sunvivasamo&#39;

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a new and distinct variety of  Verbena  plant having a semi-erect growth habit. The new  Verbena  plant has abundant branching, the whole plant remaining in bloom for a considerable period of time. The flowers are formed in profusion in a spike and the petals display a deep purplish pink color. The blooming period is from April to November, and the flowering duration is long. The plant exhibits high tolerance to heat, high resistance to rain, pests and disease, particularly powdery mildew.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Verbena hybrida

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘Sunvivasamo’

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new variety of Verbena plant, named ‘Sunvivasamo’, which originated from open-pollination of a Verbena hybrid variety called ‘142-13’ (unpatented).

The Verbena is a very popular plant and is used for flower bedding and potting in the summer season. There are only a few varieties of the Verbena plant that have abundant branching, many deep purplish pink flowers in a spike, and a high resistance to heat, rain, and disease. Accordingly, this invention was aimed at obtaining a new Verbena variety having a decumbent growth habit, much branching, many flowers in a spike, high tolerance to heat and rain, and resistance to disease and pests.

The parent variety ‘142-13’ used in the open-pollination of ‘Sunvivasamo’ is a strain of our breeding lines. The plant height of ‘142-13’ is lower than ‘Sunvivasamo’, and the petal color of ‘143-13’ is purplish pink, which is lighter than that of ‘Sunvivasamo’ (near R.H.S. 68A).

In October 1997, 2000 seedlings were obtained from the natural crosses of Verbena variety called ‘142-13’, and were grown in a controlled environment at Yokaichi-shi, Shiga-ken, Japan. These seedlings were grown in pots in glasshouses for evaluation. One seedling was selected in view of its growth habit and flower color in October 2001. That seedling was propagated by cutting and a trial was carried out by flower potting and bedding from May to November 2002. The botanical characteristics of that plant were then examined, using similar varieties ‘Sunvivasa’ (unpatented) and ‘Sunvivapi’ (unpatented) for comparison. As a result, it was concluded that this Verbena plant is distinguishable from any other variety, whose existence is known to us, and is uniform and stable in its characteristics. The new variety of Verbena plant was named ‘Sunvivasamo’.

In the following description, the color-coding is in accordance with the Horticultural Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England (R.H.S.).

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

This new variety is unlike any commercially available Verbena known to us as evidenced by the following unique combinations of characteristics.

1. Semi-erect growth habit with abundant branching.

2. Plentiful number of flowers in a spike, having a great profusion of blooms with the entire plant remaining in bloom for a considerable period of time.

3. Long flowering duration.

4. The petal color is deep purplish pink (near R.H.S. 68A).

5. The plant has a high resistance to rain, heat, disease and pests.

The new variety ‘Sunvivasamo’ differs from the similar variety ‘Sunvivasa’ in the following points.

1. The internode length of ‘Sunvivasamo’ is shorter than that of ‘Sunvivasa’.

2. The floret length of ‘Sunvivasamo’ is shorter than that of ‘Sunvivasa’.

3. The petal color of ‘Sunvivasamo’ is deep purplish pink (near R.H.S. 68A), while that of ‘Sunvivasa’ is light purplish pink (near R.H.S. 54D).

4. The number of flowers per spike of ‘Sunvivasmo’ is more than that of ‘Sunvivasa’.

The new variety ‘Sunvivasamo’ differs from the similar variety ‘Sunvivapi’ in the following points.

1. The internode length of ‘Sunvivasamo’ is shorter than that of ‘Sunvivapi’.

2. The leaf of ‘Sunvivasamo’ is smaller than that of ‘Sunvivapi’.

3. The leaf shape of ‘Sunvivasamo’ is oblong, having serrate margin, while that of ‘Sunvivapi’ is hastate, having crenate margin.

4. The floret length of ‘Sunvivasamo’ is taller than that of ‘Sunvivapi’.

5. The petal color of ‘Sunvivasamo’ is deep purplish pink (near R.H.S. 68A, while that of ‘Sunvivapi’ is vivid purplish red (near R.H.S. 67B) with eye.

6. The number of flowers per spike of ‘Sunvivasmo’ is more than that of ‘Sunvivapi’.

This new variety of Verbena Plant ‘Sunvivasamo’ was asexually reproduced by the use of cuttings at Yokaichi-shi, Shiga-ken, Japan, and homogeneity and stability thereof were confirmed. The instant plant retains its distinctive characteristics and reproduces true to type in successive generations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The depicted plants had been reproduced by the use of cuttings and were photographed during April 2003 while growing outdoors at an age of approximately 6 months at Yokaichi-shi, Shiga-ken, Japan.

FIG. 1 illustrates a typical plant of the new variety of Verbena plant ‘Sunvivasamo’ growing in the ground.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close view of typical foliage and blossoms of the new variety of Verbena plant ‘Sunvivasamo’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The botanical characteristics of the new variety of Verbena plant named ‘Sunvivasamo’ are as follows when observed during October at Yokaichi-shi, Shiga-ken, Japan, at an age of 6 months.

-   Plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—Semi-erect.         -   Plant width.—Approximately 44.5 cm.         -   Plant height.—Approximately 28.5 cm. -   Stem:     -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 1.6 mm.         -   Anthocyanin pigmentation.—Absent.         -   Pubescence.—Dense.         -   Prickles.—Absent.         -   Branching.—Abundant.         -   Subterranean stem.—Absent.         -   Length of internode.—Approximately 1.2 cm. -   Leaf:     -   -   Phyllotaxis.—Opposite.         -   Shape of blade.—Oblong.         -   Apex shape.—Obtuse.         -   Base shape.—Truncate.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Length.—Approximately 3.7 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 1.9 cm.         -   Color.—Upper side color is near R.H.S. 138A (Dark olive             green); Lower side color is near R.H.S. 147C (moderate             yellow green).         -   Pubescence.—Dense.         -   Petiole.—Present. -   Flower:     -   -   Shape of cluster.—Obconical.         -   Cluster length.—Approximately 3.1-4.0 cm.         -   Cluster diameter.—Approximately 5.0-5.5 cm.         -   Facing direction.—Upward.         -   Floret diameter.—Approximately 1.8-2.0 cm.         -   Floret length.—Approximately 1.6-1.8 cm.         -   Color of petal.—Adaxial side: Near R.H.S. 68A (deep purplish             pink); Abaxial side: near R.H.S. 68A.         -   Eye color.—Absent.         -   Variegation.—Absent.         -   Petal apex.—Emarginate.         -   Number of petals.—Generally 5.         -   Calyx length.—Approximately 1.2-1.5 cm.         -   Calyx shape.—Tubular. Sepals have an acute apex and are             fused at the base.         -   Reproductive organs.—1 pistil and 4 stamens.         -   Pistil shape.—Bifid.         -   Anther color.—Near R.H.S. 1B.         -   Filament color.—Near R.H.S. 1B.         -   Pollen.—Present in a moderate quantity; color near R.H.S.             11D.         -   Stigma color.—Near R.H.S. 4D.         -   Style color.—Near R.H.S. 144B.         -   Ovaries.—Commonly four in number.         -   Peduncle diameter.—Approximately 1.0 mm.         -   Peduncle length.—Approximately 3.8 cm.         -   Peduncle color.—Near R.H.S. 137C (Moderate yellow green).         -   Number of flowers per spike.—Approximately 34.         -   Flowering period.—April to November in the southern Kanto             area, Japan. The plant shape does not change throughout this             period. A typical flower commonly lasts 5 to 7 days on the             plant when experiencing a temperature of approximately 20°             C.         -   Fruit and seed.—Fruit and seed production has not been             observed -   Physiological and ecological characteristics:     -   -   Winter hardiness.—USDA Hardiness Zone 4-9 (Grown as             perennial).         -   Heat tolerance.—The plant grows well at temperatures up to             at least 35° C.         -   Disease and pest resistance.—Resistant to powdery mildew. No             serious damage by pathogens and pests common to Verbena has             been observed. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Verbena plant named ‘Sunvivasamo’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 